FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said the commission should use its authority under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act to investigate the business practices of patent assertion entities (PAEs) to examine whether those practices harm competition and consumer interests. Section 6(b) of the FTC Act gives the agency the authority to do a full investigation of an industry’s business practices, including issuing subpoenas, and report their findings to Congress and the public. Ramirez said at a Thursday joint Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and American Antitrust Institute (AAI) event that she supports conducting an investigation, but did not say she would formally ask the commission to vote to start one.
A pair of controversial National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs that collect phone metadata and user data from online services have helped prevent “potential terrorist events over 50 times since 9/11,” NSA Director Keith Alexander told a House Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday. At least 10 of those threats involved U.S. targets, though Alexander and other intelligence officials only disclosed details of two new cases Tuesday. The programs are “immensely valuable for protecting our nation and securing the security of our allies,” Alexander said. Most members of the committee defended the programs Tuesday, with Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., a former FBI agent, inviting Alexander and other officials to dispel the “laundry list” of “incomplete information” that has circulated since news of the programs leaked earlier this month.
A pair of controversial National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs that collect phone metadata and user data from online services have helped prevent “potential terrorist events over 50 times since 9/11,” NSA Director Keith Alexander told a House Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday. At least 10 of those threats involved U.S. targets, though Alexander and other intelligence officials only disclosed details of two new cases Tuesday. The programs are “immensely valuable for protecting our nation and securing the security of our allies,” Alexander said. Most members of the committee defended the programs Tuesday, with Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., a former FBI agent, inviting Alexander and other officials to dispel the “laundry list” of “incomplete information” that has circulated since news of the programs leaked earlier this month.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai urged Congress to “permanently” exclude cellphone firmware unlocking from the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The librarian of Congress declined in October to renew a three-year exemption that excluded unlocking from prosecution under the DMCA, meaning consumers who unlock their mobile devices could face civil and criminal penalties. “This is a classic case of the government solving a problem that doesn’t exist,” Pai said Monday at a joint TechFreedom-Competitive Enterprise Institute event. Contract-law rights, including early termination fees, already ensure subscribers fulfill contracts with the carriers, he said. “Adding heavy-handed copyright penalties, including hefty criminal fines, marries the sledgehammer to the fly,” Pai said. Congress is already considering at least four bills that would address the issue -- the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (HR-1123), the Unlocking Technology Act (HR-1892), the Wireless Device Independence Act (S-467) and the Wireless Consumer Choice Act (S-481).
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai urged Congress to “permanently” exclude cellphone firmware unlocking from the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The librarian of Congress declined in October to renew a three-year exemption that excluded unlocking from prosecution under the DMCA, meaning consumers who unlock their mobile devices could face civil and criminal penalties. “This is a classic case of the government solving a problem that doesn’t exist,” Pai said Monday at a joint TechFreedom-Competitive Enterprise Institute event. Contract-law rights, including early termination fees, already ensure subscribers fulfill contracts with the carriers, he said. “Adding heavy-handed copyright penalties, including hefty criminal fines, marries the sledgehammer to the fly,” Pai said. Congress is already considering at least four bills that would address the issue -- the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (HR-1123), the Unlocking Technology Act (HR-1892), the Wireless Device Independence Act (S-467) and the Wireless Consumer Choice Act (S-481).
The growing furor last week over the implications of National Security Agency surveillance programs that collect phone metadata and data from online services included a growing number of lawsuits aimed at stopping the programs. Although most of the lawsuits targeted the NSA and the rest of the U.S. intelligence community, at least two class-action suits also involved the telecom and Internet companies from which the government collected data. Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman, the lead plaintiff in those lawsuits, claimed the companies are as complicit as the government in violating their subscribers’ constitutional rights. A former federal prosecutor who has handled telecom cases at the federal and state levels told us existing legal precedents will make it difficult for Klayman to prevail over the companies, and are likely to preclude others from bringing similar challenges.
The growing furor last week over the implications of National Security Agency surveillance programs that collect phone metadata and data from online services included a growing number of lawsuits aimed at stopping the programs. Although most of the lawsuits targeted the NSA and the rest of the U.S. intelligence community, at least two class-action suits also involved the telecom and Internet companies from which the government collected data. Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman, the lead plaintiff in those lawsuits, claimed the companies are as complicit as the government in violating their subscribers’ constitutional rights. A former federal prosecutor who has handled telecom cases at the federal and state levels told us existing legal precedents will make it difficult for Klayman to prevail over the companies, and are likely to preclude others from bringing similar challenges.
Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency (NSA), told the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday that a pair of controversial NSA surveillance programs was “the right thing to do” to protect Americans, saying “what we are doing does protect Americans’ civil liberties.” Alexander is also commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. NSA’s collection of phone metadata and user data from online services came to light last week following leaks from now-former Booz Allen contractor Edward Snowden (CD June 10 p5). Alexander said during the hearing Wednesday, his first public comments since the leaks, that he wants to disclose further information on the programs to the public -- but he wants to consult further with the U.S. intelligence community to prevent any public information from hurting U.S. security. “We aren’t trying to hide it,” he said.
Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency (NSA), told the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday that a pair of controversial NSA surveillance programs was “the right thing to do” to protect Americans, saying “what we are doing does protect Americans’ civil liberties.” Alexander is also commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. NSA’s collection of phone metadata and user data from online services came to light last week following leaks from now-former Booz Allen contractor Edward Snowden (WID June 10 p1). Alexander said during the hearing Wednesday, his first public comments since the leaks, that he wants to disclose further information on the programs to the public -- but he wants to consult further with the U.S. intelligence community to prevent any public information from hurting U.S. security. “We aren’t trying to hide it,” he said.
The FCC released an order Thursday approving Progeny’s controversial E-911 locator service for commercial use in the 902-928 MHz band. Commissioner Ajit Pai voted in favor of the order earlier this week, making commission approval unanimous, as expected (CD June 6 p9).